On Vacation

by Cindy on July 3, 2011

studio waterstone

Hello and welcome to another segment of “i heart macro”.    Every year the sight of this big, colorful flower spells out  S U M M E R to me.  I instantly feel transported to a beautiful, balmy island -somewhere exotic.

macrosundayflower2

Well, we have been transported after all.  We packed up, and like many up and down the East Coast, we headed for the beach.  Like to see what it looks like when sweet bead studio goes mobile? 🙂  I am rediscovering that I am not a “light” packer.  This looks bad.  BUT, I am going to be gone for a long time, so of course I brought every thing I could – just in case.

sweetbeadstudio_on-the-move51

sweetbeadstudio_on-the-move1

sweetbeadstudio_on-the-move62

sweetbeadstudio_on-the-move3

sweetbeadstudio_on-the-move43

…..and finally reaching our destination = not exactly exotic, but balmy and beautiful!

oceancity_md-flag

oceancitywalktobeach

Have a safe and fun holiday, wherever you are visiting from!

-Cindy

{ 35 comments }

Something old and something new

by Cindy on June 30, 2011

Hello!

I’ve got a little something “new” to start my post with today.

Sometimes you realize it really is a small world.  During my recent trip to Bead & Button, I happened to be at the Kalmbach booth just as the book signing for Beading Across America was wrapping up.  It was a neat scene, seeing many of the smiling contributors there together.  I even met one on the shuttle on the way to the airport the next day.  Now you know seed beads are completely out of my realm.  But something compelled me to look for the book online and read a little more about the authors.  As it turns out, one lives in Virginia!  And wait, she was going to be teaching a class in the next week at my local bead store!  I contacted Amy Katz, made a few inquiries, then found myself signing up for a class…..making a RING no less! 🙂  It was really an exciting feeling to decide to jump right in and try something absolutely brand new to me.  And I was joined by a friend.

cindyjeanette31

That’s my ArtBLISS partner and friend, Jeanette!  Neither of us had really properly threaded a needle,  and for goodness sakes never worked with something as tiny as a charlotte before!  I found myself in a tricky situation with two different-sized needles going but was still smiling.  I think I’m kinda getting the hang of peyote stitch.  I’m not saying everything turned out perfectly (or that it didn’t take me a few hours to complete the project), but I really had FUN.  Amy is a fantastic (and patient) teacher.  There is such a wonderful sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a project!

fireicering2

fireicering3

Now on to my something “old”.

By now you’ve probably seen a number of posts about the jam-packed 2011 issue of Easy Wire.   Heather Powers wrote a nice review on Art Bead Scene recently.  I’m proud of my friends whose work are featured within the 144-page issue.  That’s Christi Baxter Clothier’s bright and cheerful necklace  featured on the cover.  I was happy to have a few pieces in this year’s issue as well.

easywire2011

grandevista

The deep red lampwork focal was a gift from Lori.  The artist is unfortunately no longer making beads.

summersstudiofocal

Focal by LeAnn of Summers Studio

easywire2011_clearlyclassic

That’s all for now….   Thanks for stopping by and seeing my “something old, something new” today!

-Cindy


{ 32 comments }

i heart macro {and big wishes}

by Cindy on June 25, 2011

studio waterstone

I’m joining Lori’s fun “i heart macro” Sunday this week.  I know dandelions have been featured by others already, up close and beautiful in all of their humble beauty. I couldn’t resist this one though, after all, it was a jumbo-sized dandelion!  These are the kind reserved for your great BIG extra-special wishes.   We all have those.  🙂

macrosunday_makeawish1

macrosunday_makeawishpicnik-collage

macrosunday_makeawish4

{ 28 comments }